Woodside Notes: Town acts to slow speeders Woodside Notes: Town acts to slow speeders (July 06, 2005)

Speeders, beware: the Woodside Town Council voted to lower the speed limit on Tripp Road from 35 to 25 mph. The narrow road attracts vehicle, bicycle and equestrian traffic.

The vote was 5-0, with Pete Sinclair and Sue Boynton absent, at the June 28 meeting. The council must vote to approve the lower speed limit a second time before it can take effect.

Town Manager Susan George said she would work with the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office to educate drivers about the lower speed limit through warnings during the first few weeks the 25 mph speed limit is in place.

The council also acted to slow down cut-through traffic on Eleanor Drive by voting 5-0 to approve the installation of three-way stops at the intersections of Eleanor Drive with Southgate Drive and with Stockbridge Avenue.

The Woodside Heights neighborhood east of Interstate 280 attracts cut-through drivers looking to avoid the intersection of Woodside Road and Alameda de las Pulgas, town staff said. The new stop signs were advocated by the Woodside Heights Homeowners' Association.
Cable TV franchise

Woodside is teaming up with Portola Valley to try to improve its cable television service. Only 70 to 75 percent of Woodside is served by the cable system, now owned by Comcast, said Town Manager Susan George. In many parts of town, the residential density is deemed too low to be served by the cable company.

The cable franchise agreements for both towns are up for renewal in less than a year, and since Portola Valley faces similar problems with making cable TV service available to all of its residents, Woodside Town Council members agreed it might enhance their bargaining position if they joined forces.

Portola Valley has a cable TV committee, and is soliciting proposals from consultants to help negotiate the franchise renewal. Woodside plans to form its own ad hoc committee.

The council approved a cost-sharing agreement with Portola Valley at its June 28 meeting on a 5-0 vote, with Sue Boynton and Pete Sinclair absent.

Councilman Dave Tanner said the town didn't do a very good job in its initial negotiations for the cable franchise in the late 1980s.

"We got the worst system you can get," he said.

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